JAMES DIXON - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED - HFSID 34385

JAMES DIXON
The Senator autographs an envelope with a patriotic Civil War slogan.
Commemorative Envelope signed: "James Dixon", 5½x3¼. Unmailed envelope bearing image of a Union soldier in "Zouave" uniform and US flag, standing on a Confederate flage, captioned "Remember Ellsworth." JAMES DIXON.
Reminds a Yale Professor that New York's Senators must endorse an application.
Autograph Letter signed: "James Dixon", 1p, 5x8. Washington, D.C., 1864 December 28. Docketed on verso. To Prof. A[lexander] C. Twining", in full: "Yours of the 26th inst. is received; and in compliance with y our request, I will call Mr. Seward's attention to the application in behalf of Mr. Catlin. I would suggest, however, that in order to secure his appointment, the active executories of the Senators from New York, or at least of one of them, will be necessary. With high respect, Your obedient". James Dixon (1814-1873) was a U.S. Representative (Whig Party) from Connecticut from 1845-49; a member of the Connecticut State Senate in 1849 and 1854; and Republican U.S. Senator from Connecticut from 1857-1869. Friendly with President Johnson, Dixon worked unsuccessfully with the President to weaken the language of the proposed Fourteenth Amendment, approved by Congress in June 1866. He broke with most in his Party to oppose the impeachment of President Johnson. The vote in the Senate to remove the President from office fell one vote short! Dixon switched parties, unsuccessfully seeking re-election as a Democrat. He declined an appointment as Minister to Russia, retiring from public life. Dixon's speech claiming that removing Andrew Johnson from office for what were essentially policy disagreements would change ("Mexicanize") the US system of government was much quoted during the debate on the impeachment of President Clinton.
Volunteer Colonel Elmer Elsworth, a friend of President Lincoln, organized and led a New York volunteer regiment of firefighters in the early days of the Civil War. He was shot and killed while removing a Confederate flag from an inn in Alexandria, Virginia on May 24, 1861. "Remember Ellsworth" became a successful recruiting slogan for the Union Army. Lightly soiled. Mounting adhesive remnants at corners. Otherwise, fine condition.